Roberta Thomas

A painter and dancer, she worked with Sheila’s Brush to revive the traditional dance “Running the Goat”.

After retiring from Memorial’s Maritime History Archive, she turned her determination and intelligence to several arts organizations including the Resource Centre for the Arts, Neighbourhood Dance Works, Eastern Edge Gallery, and the Folk Arts Council.

To these Robbie brought not only her pragmatism and business knowledge, but a well-rounded understanding of all art forms, and an empathy for artists. Her time was packed with carefully thought-out proposals and concrete actions. She could do as much in two weeks as many would need six months to accomplish. She saw development potential and partnerships in all kinds of unexplored places. An unrelenting advocate for the arts, she was always knowledgeable about the arts both within and outside the province.

Robbie was generous with her time and personal resources, providing encouragement in the form of friendship, accommodation, and sustenance to many artists who were down on their luck or struggling with self-doubt.

Robbie Thomas dedicated her life to supporting art: visual art, dance, theatre, music, books, cooking and gardening. Before she left us last December, she touched and improved every arts sector in this province. That is her legacy.